A Celebration of her Life Service for Rita I. Vellenga, 85 of Sisseton, SD will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 10:30 A.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD, with Rev. Aaron Deutsch officiating. Organist will be Estelle Pearson and soloist will be Pat Schubert. Pallbearers will be Curtis Vellenga, Matthew Vellenga, Dustin Bragg, Adrian Heitmann, Roger Hatling, and Jason Deutsch. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Rita's friends. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at the Cahill Funeral Chapel from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with family present from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Rita Ione Thelin was born on January 15, 1931, to William and Elvida (Stenberg) Thelin in Sisseton, SD. She graduated from Sisseton High School in 1949 and attended one year of college at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Curtis James Vellenga, on March 25, 1952 at the James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, TX. To this union two children, Bill and Jane, were born. Throughout their marriage, the family was stationed in Florida, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, and Ohio while Curt was an officer in the United States Air Force. During this time, she was a homemaker, who made a new home with every move, while nurturing and supporting her family. In addition to her work at home, she often volunteered her time as a hospital aide and for various other community organizations. In 1981, the two moved to Issaquah, Washington and shortly thereafter, Curt passed away suddenly, at the age of 52. She moved back to Sisseton in 1982 to be closer to family and where she lived for the remainder of her life. She worked for ten years at the Sisseton Memorial Library as the children's librarian and was a favorite of many of the children there. After 18 years alone, she met Gale Fladland and the two spent the next 17 years together. They enjoyed a special companionship with lots of love and laughter. Rita was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Grace Lutheran Church, and the Sisseton Senior Citizen Center. Her many interests included visiting and dining with friends, golfing, bowling, playing cards, reading, music, artistic hobbies, and watching all sports on TV. Her family and friends will remember her as an amazing, beautiful, wonderful, caring, nurturing mother who was a classy, fun, feisty, strong, tell it like it is woman who loved people and her pets. Rita died on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. Diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2015, Rita faced cancer head on, with a positive attitude and a smile on her face, which is how she lived her life.
Rita is survived by her two children, Bill (Cheryl) Vellenga of Sisseton and Jane (Duane) Schneider of Sisseton, three grandchildren, Curtis Vellenga, Matthew (Jennifer) Vellenga, and Katie (Dustin) Bragg, two great grandchildren, Hudson and Dayton Bragg, special friend, Gale Fladland, sister-in-laws, Joan McDermott and Kathleen Vellenga, nieces and nephews, and her two kitties Romie and Aries, who meant the world to her.
Her husband, Curtis, parents, William and Elvida, two brothers, Harry and Calvin, a stillborn sister, Winnie, and her brother-in-law, James preceded her in death.
Memorials may be sent to Sisseton Memorial Library or a charity of your choice.